This Is Just to Say ~ Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

This Is
     Just
          to
            Say
 ~ Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

by: Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by: Pamela Zagarenski



Sidman, Joyce, and Pamela Zagarenski. This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007.

ISBN:0618616802

This is
    Just
        to
           Say
Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

By: Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by:  Pamela Zagarenski

Summary:
            “This is Just to Say” by Joyce Sidman is a clever take on apologies and the responses that many times accompany them. The reader can relate to many of the circumstances in the poetry that are witty and realistic. The interesting twist of the poetry book is that it shows what the other person thinks about said apology. Ms. Sidman made a conscience effort not to place the circumstance and response side by side, but place them apart in the book. This forms a natural poetry break and gives the reader pause to think. That touch will have the reader re-reading each poem so a clear connection can be formed.
            The illustrations created by Pamela Zagarenski are sketched beautifully. In many of the pictures there are newspapers that have been clipped that carry the definitions for apologies and forgiveness.  This simple addition makes each picture original and one of a kind.

To: Mrs. Merz
Fashion Sense ~Apology
I am sorry for my rude words.

The classroom was so dead.
No one had anything more to say about Old Yeller.
And we were all crazy to get outside.
The silence seemed like a hundred crushing elephants.
So I raised my hand and made a comment
about your dress,
and everyone burst out laughing.
You smiled,
But your smile looked like a frozen pond.
…….
By: Carmen

To Carmen
Haiku for Carmen
            Just a few warm words,
And spring sunlight fills the room;
            My dress turns to sky.
By Mrs. Ruth Merz


 Excerpt/Poem Introduction
This poem is a great example to what an apology can mean to another person. I think most students grade 3 and up will relate to the possibility of hurting another person with words that they did not mean to say. This poem would be an excellent introduction to what an apology is, why we apologize and repercussions of actions made.

This excerpt could be used as a writing prompt for grades 3^rd – 5^th .  Write a story about what were the words that were said? Students could use their schema in inference to think of a connected reply. Younger students could write a sentence about how mean words make them feel. The teacher can then place responses, stories and sentences
on a board for all to read. This activity will help with conversations on bullying and how using kind words is always a good choice.